Caretaker milked funds from school

CARETAKER Michael Maskell milked money from school funds to go on a spending spree buying food and furniture, a court heard.

48-year-old Maskell used his boss's cash card to steal funds from Pipers Corner School, in Great Kingshill, Aylesbury Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Maskell, of Trowley Rise, Abbots Langley, Herts, was found guilty of 21 charges of theft by a ten-two majority verdict after a two-day trial.

Nigel Daly, prosecuting, said the defendant started his job as caretaker at the school in January 1999 and began using the funds from the card, which was meant for school purchases, on February 22 last year.

Mr Daly told the court Maskell travelled to High Wycombe, Reading, Watford and as far as Bournemouth to use cash machines, sometimes three or four times on the same day and drawing between £50-£200.

Maskell, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, stole a total of £1,960 up until April last year, when he was dismissed after his breach of trust came to the attention of the Bursar.

The court heard how Maskell admitted to police that he used the school's Barclay card to get cash, but claimed he had been told by a maintenance worker he could do so as long as he paid the money back.

Maskell said he always intended to pay back the money he used to buy food and second-hand furniture for his home, which was provided for him by the school.

After Maskell was found guilty of the charges, Mr Daly revealed the defendant had previous convictions going back to 1970 and, in 1996, he was cautioned for two thefts while he was a caretaker at St Andrews School in Chinnor.

Judge Christopher Tyrer adjourned sentence for a report to be prepared and he allowed Maskell conditional bail. He told Maskell: 'All options are open including the obvious one.'